Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 15 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waterbury by $9,610/yr
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 9.8%)
Waterbury, CT
Pros
37% less violent crime than Hartford
Households earn $9,610 more per year on average
Homes cost $36k less ($162,800 vs $198,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (9.8%)
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Waterbury
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Income
$9,610
$51,451 vs $41,841/yr
Waterbury
Violent Crime
37% lower
322.5 vs 515.8 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$36k less
$162,800 vs $198,900
Waterbury
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
9.8% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $51,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 9.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 15 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 8 and Waterbury wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hartford to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $162,800 median home), income ($41,841 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Waterbury, CT are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.